After more than 20 years, posts here will now only be occasional ( |
| Iglesia de San Pedro Apostol (Church of St Peter the Apostle) in Vilaflor, Tenerife |
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Hermano Pedro, the first Central American and Canarian Saint. Peter of Saint Joseph de Betancur (or Betancourt) y Gonzáles who was born in Vilaflor on 21st March 1626 and lived in Tenerife until the age of 23, dedicating his life to shepherding goats between the peaks and the coast, to his Cave of Santo Hermano Pedro.
In the last half of his
life, he lived in La Antigua, Guatemala,
where he became a missionary. Through his charitable works, Brother
Peter became one of the pioneers of providing medial assistance to
convalescents as well as bringing education to the indigenous population
and the poor. His dedication and work in
providing for the most needy made him a popular figure
amongst Christians in Guatemala, resulting in his canonization by Pope
John Paul II in 2002.
